Directed Writing Continuous Writing

Students Tips General Guidelines for Directed Writing Read the question carefully. Identify your task, your role and your audience. Use the 45 minutes allocated for this question wisely. Plan your essay and organize your thoughts (this includes what to write and how to ela orate on !oints" Include an introduction and a conclusion and make sure your !aragra!hs are well organized. Use all content !oints gi#en. It is ad#isa le to cross out the !oints you ha#e used, so that no !oint is left out. Include !oints of your own only if you are asked to. $therwise, do not waste !recious time doing so ecause you will not get any e%tra marks. Elaborate on the points given. &rite '() sentences to ela orate on each !oint. Remem er a crucial as!ect of this !a!er is language and your a ility to write can only e tested if you !ro#ide sufficient language for the e%aminer to gauge your linguistic a ility. Use a #ariety of sentence structures so that your essay is not dull and monotonous. *lways read through what you ha#e written. +orrect grammatical, s!elling and !unctuation errors.

Articles
,eneral guidelines -. *rticles are !ieces of writing gi#ing information, ad#ice or suggestions to the readers. '. .hey are usually written for the school magazine or school newsletter. ). .he tone and style are formal. 4. *n article/s format a" .itle 0 can e taken from the ru ric " &riter/s name 0 1ust write 23y,/ and then followed title. c" .he !eo!le who are going to read the article. Question 5any students feel that they ha#e too many things to do in one day. 5any of them really do not manage their time wisely and end u! not com!leting their homework or school !ro4ects on time. 6ou want to make a few suggestions on how they can manage their time in a etter and more effecti#e way. &rite an article for your school magazine gi#ing your suggestions on how to manage time. Include the following !oints. +hange attitude Pay attention in class .ry to com!lete as much homework as !ossi le during school hours 5ake a 2.o do/ list 7et !riorities right 7et a realistic target for e%amination Plan a !ersonal timeta le 5ake time for rest and rela%ation 1oin study grou!s 7eek hel! from !arents, teachers or friends 7!eak to school counsellor 7tay ha!!y and healthy
3

y your name 4ust elow the

&hen writing the article, you should remem er to8 Include the title Include the writer/s name Include all the !oints gi#en &rite in the format of an article

Sa ple Ans!er 9ow to 5anage .ime 3y *l ert 5oss .oday many students feel that they ha#e too many things to do in one day. 5any of them really do not manage their time wisely and end u! not com!leting their homework or school !ro4ects on time. 7o, here I would like to gi#e some suggestions to students on ho! to anage ti e. :irstly, students must change their attitude. ;e%t, students should pay attention in class. .hirdly, students ust try to co plete as uch ho e!ork as possible during school hours. :urthermore students can ake a "To do list.

7tudents ought to set their priorities right. 7tudents should set a realistic target for their coming e%amination. :urthermore, students can plan a personal ti etable. 7tudents must also ake ti e for rest and rela#ation. parents, 7tudents can $oin study groups. *ll students should seek help fro

teachers or friends if needed. 7tudents should speak to the school counsellor if necessary. :inally students should be happy and healthy when they spend their ti e !isely. E#a ination Tips
-. Introduction of the article can e taken from the ru ric as shown in the sam!le.

'. *ll students need to do is to add the !hrase students follo!ed by a the gi#en content !oints to create meaningful sentences. e.g 0 7tudents should, 7tudents must etc. ). Use con4unctions and sequence connectors

odal, in front of

%ractice & 6ou are asked to !rite an article for your school magazine 6our article is on 2<isci!linary Pro lems in 7chools/. In your article, you also suggest ways to o#ercome the !ro lems. 3elow are some notes you ha#e made. %roble s Playing truant 0 cutting classes, loitering in sho!!ing com!le%es, frequenting cy ercafes during school hours 7moking 0 in toilets, ehind the ushes, cutting classes to smoke 3ullying 0 intimidating, eating, e%torting money =andalism 0 destroying school !ro!erty, graffiti ,angsterism 0 in#ol#ed in gangs, fighting, recruiting 4uniors

Suggestions to overco e the proble s +ounselling 1oining #oluntary organization 3eing acti#e in games and societies <oing !art(time 4o .aking u! a ho y

Inter#ention y !arents

<o remem er8 .o gi#e a title .hat your audience are students .o use all the notes gi#en a o#e .o write in !aragra!hs

'eport
,eneral guidelines
-. * re!ort gi#es information to a !articular !erson or grou!. '. It has to e formal and concise ). .he content is inclusi#e of facts and o!inions. 4. .y!es of re!ort8 a. Re!ort of an incident . Re!ort on acti#ity or e#ent c. Re!ort on a sur#ey d. ;ews!a!er re!ort

(asic for at Re!ort $n>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> .o 8 ( to whom the re!ort is directed to " <ate 8

:rom 8 ( the !erson who writes the re!ort " >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

:acts and ela oration???????????.

+onclusion???????????????

Re!orted y, signature

Question 6ou are the 7ecretary of the @n#ironment +lu in your school. 6our clu has successfully organized @n#ironment &eek in your school. &rite a report to the !rinci!al a out the e#ent. Include the following information in your re!ort8
Duration )rd 0 Ath 5arch 'B-)b$ectives raise awareness eautify school com!ound Activities !aint murals !lant trees recycle old news!a!ers !oster drawing com!etition s!eech y in#ited guest

E*+,')*-E*T WEE.

Advantages create conduci#e en#ironment instill lo#e for nature foster closer relationshi! de#elo! co(o!eration

&hen writing the report, you should remem er to8 gi#e the re!ort a title address the re!ort accordingly !ro#ide an a!!ro!riate ending use all the information gi#en write in !aragra!hs

SA-%/E A*SWE' .o8 %rincipal 75C ,emilang :rom8 7ecretary .he @n#ironment +lu Environ ent Week ,n -y School .he @n#ironment +lu in my school has successfully organized an @n#ironment &eek. .he duration of the @n#ironment &eek was from 0rd 1 2th -arch 34&&. .he first ob$ective of the !rogramme was to raise a!areness a out the en#ironment among the students. .he second ob$ective was to beautify the school co pound with as many !lants as !ossi le. .here were many activities organized y the @n#ironment +lu during the week. 7tudents painted colourful urals on the wall a out en#ironment. .hey also planted trees around the school with the hel! of the school gardeners. .hey rought old ne!spapers from home to e sent for recycling. .hey took !art in poster dra!ing co petition on en#ironment and they also listened to a speech by an invited guest during the closing ceremony. .he advantages of the @n#ironment &eek are as follows. :irstly. it creates conducive environ ent to the students. 7econdly, it instils love for nature in e#eryone. .hirdly, it fosters closer relationship etween students and teachers in the school. :ourthly, it develops co1operation among students. .he @n#ironment &eek was successful and ho!efully the !rogramme will e held e#ery year as an annual e#ent. 'eported by, Labu bin Labi Da u in Da i -5 5arch 'B--

@E*5I;*.I$; .IP7 -. Remind students that they should use the words in the ru ric to hel! them with their introductory !aragra!h. '. *ll !oints should e written in com!lete sentences in order to e awarded marks for content !oints. ). Remind students to write sim!le sentences instead of lengthy ones to a#oid grammar mistakes.

%ractice 0 6ou and your classmates ha#e 4ust returned from a tri! to Cuala Dum!ur. 6ou are the class monitor. &rite a re!ort to your class teacher a out the tri!. Include the following information. .ri! to Cuala Dum!ur <ate 8 -5 ( -A <ecem er <uration8 ) days and ' nights ;o of students 8 )' ;o of teachers8 ) 5ode of trans!ort8 3us *ccommodation8 9otel +ost !er !erson8 R5 -'B.BB Paces of interest8 F *rt gallery F 7ho!!ing com!le%es F Parks and gardens F Goos F 5useums

&hen writing the report you should remem er to8 gi#e the re!ort a title address the re!ort accordingly !ro#ide an a!!ro!riate ending use all the information gi#en

5or al /etter 3asic :ormat ;ur *dilah t 5ufti '4, .aman <esa 5inangka au BH4BB Pokok 7ena

.he <irector, 5unici!al +ouncil P.$. 3o% 4) BH)5BB *lor 7etar Cedah. 'B-<ear 7ir, +om!laint * out 7er#ices &ith the reference to the a o#e matter, I????????? ???????????????????????????? ' ) ??????????????????????????.. I ho!e????????????????????????. ?????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????. .hank you. 6ours faithfully, '4 *PRID

10

6a7 /etter of co plaint .here has een a !lan to uild a mega sho!!ing com!le% near the !u lic each in your neigh ourhood. *s a concerned citizen, write a letter to the editor of a local news!a!er !rotesting against the !lan. &rite the letter ased on the notes elow8
* sho!!ing com!le% already e%ists 7!oil the eauty of the each Increase traffic flow in the area Pro4ect may dri#e tourists away Docal usinesses affected 7ocial ills will increase

&hen writing the letter, you should remem er to8

*ddress the letter to the editor of a local news!a!er Use all the notes gi#en @la orate all the notes

Sa ple Ans!er 1ason 1ames, 5, Cam!ung Pantai 5erdeka, BI-BB Pantai 5erdeka, Cedah <arul *man.

@ditor, .he 7tar, BIBBB 7ungai Petani, Cedah <arul *man. <ear 7ir, %')TEST,*G AGA,*ST A %/A* T) (8,/D A -EGA S9)%%,*G :)-%/E; I am writing this letter on ehalf of the residents of Cam!ung Pantai 5erdeka. It has come to our knowledge that the local authority has already gi#en the green light to !ro4ect. .hese are our reasons.
11

'H 5*6 'B--

uild a mega

sho!!ing com!le% near the !u lic each of Pantai 5erdeka. &e are totally against the mega

'.

:irstly, we do not need a mega sho!!ing com!le% as a shopping co ple# already

e#ists in our area. JWhere?K .he e%isting sho!!ing com!le% is only - kilometre from the !ro!osed site. 7econdly, the new sho!!ing com!le% will spoil the beauty of the beach. JWhat will happen?K .he swaying coconut and casuarina trees will e cut down. 3esides, there will e more ru ). ish on the white sandy each. ay drive tourists a!ay. JHow?K .he each area will e reduced e demolished. &ith the mega !ro4ect, there will also e an ;e%t, the pro$ect

and the shady areas will

increase of traffic flo! in the area . JHow?K JWhen?K 5ore hea#y #ehicles such as lorries and trailers will use the #illage road throughout the construction !eriod. J What effect?K .his will increase the num er of road accidents. 4. :urthermore, local business !ill also be affected. JWho are involved?K .en hawkers who sell foods and drinks along the each will e affected. J What are the effects?K .hey will lose their income and will e una le to su!!ort their families. :inally, we elie#e social ills !ill increase. JHow?K .he mega sho!!ing com!le% will ha#e a ig cinema and a owling arena. .hese kinds of !laces may attract more teenagers to loiter and !lay truant. .hese may lead to an increase in social ills. 5. &e a!!eal to the authorities to shel#e their !lans without any further delay as it would mar the eauty of the each. 6ours faithfully, Jason James (1*7$; 1*5@7"

E#a ination Tips

-. 5ake a sim!le introduction. @%!lain more a out the location of the neigh ourhood. '. Rewrite the !oints gi#en in com!lete sentences. @la orate each of the !oints gi#en sim!le details. *sk wh(questions to hel! you to ela orate. ). Plan the organisation of each !oint. 4. If you do not ha#e any !ersonal e%!erience regarding the issue, try to imagination may hel! you to !ro#ide some rele#ant details. e imaginati#e. 6our y gi#ing

12

6b7< 5or al /etter of re=uest .he Parent(.eacher *ssociation of your school is organising a food fair to raise funds for #arious !ro4ects. *s the 7ecretary of the Interact +lu , you are in charge of writing a letter to a fast(food restaurant asking them to s!onsor the food. In your letter, include the following8
date, day, time and #enue of the food fair ' o 4ecti#es of the food fair 0 learn to share, e%!erience the im!ortance of coo!eration further details a out the food fair ( ( ( in#ol#e all clu s and societies e%!ected crowd8 -,BBB !eo!le amount of money to e raised8 R5-B,BBB

request for s!onsorshi! of food request for lucky draw ham!ers

&hen writing the letter, you should remem er to8

*ddress the letter to the manager Use a!!ro!riate o!ening and closing Include other rele#ant details

Sa ple Ans!er< Interact +lu , 7ekolah 5enengah Ce angsaan +em!aka, --LBB 3ayan De!as, Pulau Pinang. .he 5anager, CC+ :ast :ood 7dn. 3hd.,
13

'I, 3D :ree .rade Gone, --LBB 3ayan De!as, Pulau Pinang. <ear 7ir, A 'EQ8EST T) S%)*S)' 5))D A*D D',*.S 5)' T9E 5))D 5A,' $ur school is organising a food fair to raise funds for #arious !ro4ects. 9ere are the details of the food fair8 Date 8 5 *ugust 'B-Day 8 .hursday Ti e 8 L.BB am 0 '.BB !m +enue 8 7chool 9all '. The food fair has t!o ob$ectives . :irst of all, the clu aims to encourage the -' 1UD6 'B--

students to learn to share with others. JHow can they share with others?K .hey must learn not to e selfish and hel! others in any way they can. *nother o 4ecti#e is to allow students to e#perience the i portance of cooperation . JWith whom will they cooperate? K .hrough this food fair we are sure the students will learn how to work with other students of different clu s and societies. ). .he followings are further details of the food fair. .his !ro4ect will involve all

clubs and societies. JHow many?K 7o far -' clu s and L societies ha#e confirmed their !artici!ations. .hey will sell different kinds of foods to the e#pected cro!d which is a out &>444 people. JWho are they?K .he fair is o!en to all the students and their !arents. $ur target a ount of oney to be raised is '-&4>444 . JWhy RM10,000?K &e need that amount of money to organise #arious !ro4ects that will enefit the students.
4. &e would like to make two hum le requests here. .he first is to re=uest for your sponsorship of food. JHow much? What kind of food?K &e really a!!reciate if you could s!onsor -BB !ieces of fried chickens and -BB !ieces of fish urgers. .here is also a re=uest for your com!any to sponsor lucky dra! ha pers. JHow many? What is the cost?K It would e good if you can s!onsor ) ham!ers. @ach ham!er may cost R5'B.BB each. 14

5.

@#ery mem er of the Interact +lu !rays hard that your com!any would e a le to s!onsor the food and ham!ers. &e !ut a #ery high ho!e that you will e !art of our fund(raising acti#ity. 6our generosity is truly a!!reciated.

6ours faithfully,

Ssyyyysweirtv
(76D=I* <I*;* 3. &IR*" 7ecretary, Interact +lu , 7ekolah 5enengah Ce angsaan +em!aka.

E#a ination Tips<

-. 5ake a sim!le introduction. Refer to the question for the key ideas to introduction. '. Rewrite the !oints gi#en in com!lete sentences. @la orate each of the !oints gi#en y gi#ing sim!le details. *sk wh(questions when gi#ing ela oration. +ertain wh(questions are much easier for you to answer such as when, who, how many and where. *nswering why is normally more challenging. ). Plan the organisation of each !oint. e written in the

%ractice ? /etter of co plaint .here are a few matters in your school which could e im!ro#ed. 6ou and your classmates ha#e had a meeting and decided to write a for al letter of co plaint to the !rinci!al. *s the class monitor, you ha#e een asked to write the letter. In your letter, include the following8 +lassroom8
15

Unsafe wooden chairs :ans not working

.oilets8
3roken doors Unhygienic

+anteen8
Dimited choices of foods 9igh !rice of foods

&hen writing the letter, you should remem er to8

7et out the letter correctly Use all the notes gi#en @la orate each note a!!ro!riately

16

+$;.I;U$U7 &RI.I;, H.- .eacher/s ;otes ;arrati#e essays are a fa#ourite among students as they are easier to handle. .his ty!e of essay ena les the writer to use and share e%!eriences with the readers. -. 7tudents must read the question carefully and know e%actly what they are su!!osed to write. '. *sk the students to decide whether to write their essay from their own !ers!ecti#e or someone else/s. .he first !erson or third !erson singular is the most !o!ular choice. ). 7tudents should use a sim!le !lot. *sking students wh(questions will hel! them to de#elo! ideas. *d#ise them to list in chronological order. 4. 7tudents should use the !ast tense forms. 5. @ncourage the students to include ad4ecti#es and ad#er s. H. 7tudents may also use dialogue. 7.U<@;./7 .IP7 &RI.I;, * ;*RR*.I=@ @77*6 * narrati#e is a story with a sequence of connected e#ents. It could e a out a !ersonal e%!erience or an imagined e#ent or e#ents. Det us look at some ty!ical e%amination questions8 -. &rite a story of a man who returns to his home after many years. '. .he day I lost my tem!er. ). &rite a story ending with, MI shall ne#er forget this day for the rest of my life.N 4. &rite a out an occasion when you got into trou le. 5. &rite a story eginning with, MI could not elie#e my eyes?.N 9ow do I write a narrati#e essay for the e%aminationO *+.I$; PD*;8 (- hour" *. Planning P -5 minutes 3. &riting P )5 minutes +. +hecking P -B minutes .his is how we do it. *. PD*;;I;, Det/s say you ha#e chosen question ), ( &rite a story ending with, MI shall ne#er forget this day for the rest of my life.N 17

-. Read the question carefully and underline im!ortant !hrases. Pay !articular attention to the ending. '. 3rainstorm for ideas y using the 5&s and -9 a!!roach and 4ot down notes. Who is the characterO When is the e#ent taking !laceO Where is it ha!!eningO What is ha!!eningO Why is there a !ro lemO 9o! is the !ro lem sol#edO E#a ple< ,ntroduction &ho ( main character, first !erson narrator (," and cousin from +am odia &hen ( holidays, one 7unday (ody &hat ( had to accom!any cousin Pro lem &hy ( cousin lo#ed riding escalators &here ( at the sho!!ing centre &hy ( riding escalators again Pro lem '

&ho ( main character &hat ( nearly had an accident 9ow ( stum led &hy ( tried to esca!e from cousin :onclusion &hat lesson learnt 0 gratitude

Pro lem ) +lima%

3. &RI.I;, .9@ @77*6 ;ow that you ha#e got the skeleton of your story, it is time to egin writing. -. Use linkers and !hrases which link the e#ents to mo#e your story in a chronological order. 7ome !hrases that are suita le 8 It was #ery dark?. I will ne#er forget ?.. * few minutes later?. 7uddenly,? &hen the disaster ha!!ened, ?.. '. Use the !ast tense forms. +heck all the #er s you ha#e used. ). Use descri!ti#e language (ad4ecti#es, ad#er s" 4. Use sensory details to re#eal the e#ents and to get the readers in#ol#ed. <o not merely tell ut sho! the e#ents through words and !hrases. 18

@%am!le8 a. I went into the restaurant. . I walked into the restaurant. c. I sauntered into the restaurant. 5. 7entence a8 merely states that I went into the restaurant 7entence 8 gi#es a little more information as to how I went into the restaurant. 7entence c8 uses a more s!ecific word to show clearly the idea of how I went into the restaurant.

7entence c. allows the reader to see what I am doing. .he word 2sauntered/ means 2to stroll/. It gi#es the image of a !erson walking slowly into the restaurant. .hus, sentence c. is more effecti#e in narrati#e and descri!ti#e writing.

H. Use direct s!eech, ut use it s!aringly and effecti#ely. Remem er, you are writing a narrati#e, not a scri!t. A. *#oid using informal language +. +9@+CI;, Read your essay once through and check for the following things8 Is the s!elling accurateO Is the !unctuation a!!ro!riateO <id you use too many commas in a sentenceO <id you #ary the sentence structureO *re your sentences too longO <oes one thought follow the ne%t in a logical orderO <id you stick to the to!icO <id you use words so that your reader could e%!erience the incidentO <id you use the a!!ro!riate tense of the #er throughoutO 5ake any corrections neatly. &RI.I;, * <@7+RIP.I=@ @77*6 &riting a descri!ti#e essay is !erha!s more difficult than writing a narrati#e essay ecause it makes more demands on one/s use of language. In a descri!ti#e essay, you need to gi#e a detailed descri!tion of a !erson, !lace, o 4ect, e%!erience or memory. 6our descri!tion must e so effecti#e that the !erson, !lace, o 4ect, e%!erience or memory descri ed is clearly #isualised y the reader. If you are descri ing a !erson, the reader should feel that he knows the !erson well. If it is a !lace that is descri ed, the reader should feel as if he is there and seeing it with his #ery eyes. 9ow can this 19

e achie#edO .hrough the use of details that a!!eal to your reader/s senses and a li#ely tone that draws his emotions. Techni=ues in Descriptive Writing 7.@P7 *. PD*;;I;, -. Read the question carefully. (eg. *n Unforgetta le +haracter" '. Understand the question. a. &hat does the !hrase 2Unforgetta le +haracter/ meanO 9eQ7he is a !erson you will always remem er. . &hat is your focusO * fa#oura le or unfa#oura le im!ression of the character. ). 3rainstorm for ideas. @%!and and ela orate the !oints. ,ntroduction &ho is eing descri e ( the canteen lady (ody <etail - ( ,eneral *!!earance ;eat 9eight 0 short *ge 0 5B .he way she walked ( lim!s <etail ' ( ;on(!hysical features 5anners of s!eaking 0 gentle, low #oice 9a it 0 smiled a lot <etail ) ( &hy she is unforgetta le Cind ( art lesson ( the way she treated a ully Ceenness to learn 0 the way she read news!a!ers e#en though she was illiterate :onclusion ,i#e an o!inion 0 not a !erson to sit ack and let things go y 3. &RI.I;, .9@ @77*6

-. Use details 0 :ocus on the fi#e senses (sight, sound, smell, taste and touch". <etails are #ery im!ortant and when !ro!erly used, ena le descri!tions to come to life. Use nouns, ad4ecti#es and #er s to e#oke these senses. ;ouns and ad4ecti#es hel! the reader seeR #er s hel! the reader feel. '. Use a li#ely tone 0 7how your own feelings, res!onses and reactions as these make your descri!tion more #i#id and li#ely. 20

). <escri e different as!ects 0 If you are descri ing a !erson, do not limit your descri!tion to the !erson/s !hysical a!!earance. Include a detailed descri!tion of the !erson/s character and !ersonality and how other !eo!le react to him. Include a detailed !aragra!h of an incident which highlights one of these as!ects. Det/s look at the two e%tracts elow on the to!ic M*n Unforgetta le *untN. Sa ple & *unt @leanor had a shar! nose and a !air of lack eyes. 7he was thin, and had a thin, long face, an aquiline nose and sunken cheeks. 9er hair was always tied in a knot and her clothes were only of one colour 0 grey. 5y cousins and I were afraid of her and always found an e%cuse to disa!!ear whene#er she was around. Sa ple 3 *unt @leanor was thin and scrawny and her !rotruding ones almost made her look like a walking skeleton. 9er aquiline nose and sunken cheeks added to her witch(like looks and her dark eyes, when they flashed in anger, were ca!a le of sending tremors of fear down one/s s!ine. .he dreary grey tones of her clothes and her s!arse dark hair, which was always tied in a knot, further em!hasised her sternness. 5y cousins and I cringed with fear and were reduced to silence when she glared at us with her smouldering dark eyes. 9er serious demeanour and scrooge(like a!!earance did nothing to endear her to us. 7am!le - is a !lain descri!tion of the narrator/s aunt. *lthough there are se#eral #er s and ad4ecti#es, the descri!tion is somewhat dull. 7am!le ', on the other hand, is a #i#id and interesting descri!tion which rings the character to life. &e can almost see her in our mind/s eye and this effect is achie#ed through the descri!tion of the !erson/s features that are !rominent and striking. ;ote the details a out ( her o#erall !hysical a!!earance (thin, skeleton(like" ( her facial features (aquiline nose, sunken cheeks, dark eyes" ( her manner of dressing and grooming (dreary grey tones, tight un" ( feelings stirred y her a!!earance (tremors of fear, reduced to silence, cringed with fear". .he descri!tion of her !hysical a!!earance su!!orts and reinforces her character and !ersonality, and this makes the essay interesting and engaging. 7ome writers like to merge descri!ti#e writing with narrati#e writing. .here is nothing wrong with this as the descri!tion enriches the narration.

+. +9@+CI;, Read your essay once through and check for the following things8 Is the s!elling accurateO 21

Is the !unctuation a!!ro!riateO <id you use too many commas in a sentenceO <id you #ary the sentence structureO *re your sentences too longO <oes one thought follow the ne%t in a logical orderO <id you stick to the to!icO <id you use the a!!ro!riate tense of the #er throughoutO 5ake any corrections neatly.

7am!le @ssay Write a story beginning !ith> @, !as happy to be in Group &4.......................A. I was ha!!y to e in ,rou! -B. .here were si% mem ers in my grou!. .here were three other oys and si% girls. *ll of them, 4ust like me, were ha!!y to take !art in the district le#el language cam!. .he cam! was held at a two(star hotel in I!oh. &e did not ha#e to !ay anything. @#erything was s!onsored. .he mem ers in my grou! came from different secondary schools in the district. 3ut all of us were form 5 students. &e were chosen to 4oin the language cam! ecause we had the !otential to score an * in the 7P5 ---L e%amination. 7eri, from 75C 7eri Permai, was our grou! leader. 7eri was a #ery !retty girl. I had a crush on her. I knew the other oys also admired 7eri. &e named our grou! 7eri 3om astic. In the first acti#ity, we created our grou!/s logo, motto and song. &hen we !resented our song, e#ery ody liked it. .hen, there was a talk on how to answer e%amination questions. $n the second day, we had se#eral language games. &e had s!elling com!etition, #oca ulary game, sketch and many others. $ur grou! won the sketch com!etition. &e !resented a #ery good !erformance. &e !resented a story a out a !rincess who fell in lo#e with a fisherman. 7eri !layed the role of a !rincess and of course I was the !oor ut handsome fisherman. .he acti#ities went on until -B.BB !.m. &e were #ery tired ut en4oyed oursel#es a lot. $n the third day we had a 4ungle trekking in a forest near y the hotel. *ll instructions were gi#en in @nglish. &e also had to sol#e some !ro lems and answer tricky questions throughout the trekking acti#ity. It was #ery challenging. .he cam! ended with a sim!le closing ceremony. @ach !artici!ant was gi#en a certificate. *fter going through all the acti#ities I felt more confident that I would e a le to get an 2*/ for @nglish in my 7P5. I would also miss my grou! mem ers, es!ecially 7eri. I would ne#er forget them. &e !romised that we would continue to contact each other. 7eri also !romised to hel! me im!ro#e my @nglish. 7am!le ' A +isit To A 9ospital 6esterday, I followed my father to #isit my uncle who was hos!italised at a !ri#ate hos!ital. &e left home at a out 5.BB !.m. and reached the hos!ital at H.-5 !.m. .he !ri#ate hos!ital was a new hos!ital. It was o!ened two months ago. 5y uncle suffered from chronic dia etes. .wo days ago he came to the hos!ital for his regular check(u! ut the doctor had to admit him ecause his sugar le#el was #ery high. .he doctor had to monitor him all the time. 9e would e allowed to go home once his sugar le#el sta ilised. 5y uncle/s ward was at the fifth floor. .he lift was #ery s!acious and fast. * nurse, who was my mother/s old friend, greeted my father. 7he told us that my uncle was doing fine. *fter talking to the nurse for a while we went to Room 5-5. 5y uncle was #ery ha!!y to see my father and me. * 22

young @gy!tian doctor was e%amining my uncle at that time. .he doctor said that my uncle was getting etter and he would e discharged soon. 5y father chitchatted with my uncle for almost one hour. I felt ored so I went out of the room to e%!lore the new hos!ital. I went to the hos!ital lo y. It was like a hotel lo y. .here was a long list of s!ecialists and their academic qualifications on the wall. *ltogether, the hos!ital had )5 s!ecialists and some of them were foreigners. .hen, I went to the cafe. I was sur!rised as the cafe was like a fi#e(star restaurant. .hey ser#ed a #ariety of healthy dishes. 3ut I would not eat there on my own as a !late of fried rice alone was R5A.5BS @#en a glass of !lain water cost R5-.BBS Initially, I !lanned to ha#e something there ut I 4ust walked out as I only had R5'.-5 in my !ocket. &hen I was waiting for the lift to go ack to the fifth floor, a woman cried hysterically with her daughter. :rom her words, I understood that she had 4ust lost her hus and. I did not say a word ut I sym!athised them, es!ecially her cute and charming daughter. I wish I could console her daughter. 3ut efore I could offer some hel!, the door of the lift o!ened and my father a!!eared. 9e indicated it was time to go home so I 4ust followed him. I walked to the main entrance while my eyes still looking at the girl.

7am!le ) -y 5avourite 'estaurant Dast week, the 7P5 result was announced. .he night efore, I could not slee!. I was #ery ner#ous. I was scared I did not get a good result ecause my !arents were really ho!ing that I could go to uni#ersity. I went to school to collect my result with my !arents. 5y hands were shaking when I held the result sli!. 5y class teacher congratulated me. I looked at my result and hugged my father and mother. I got 5*T, -* and 4*(. @#en though I was not the est student in my school, I was #ery ha!!y with my result. 5y !arents were #ery !roud of me. .hat night, my father took me and the rest of the family mem ers to my fa#ourite restaurant, 3am oo Restaurant. It was only fi#e kilometres from my house. .he restaurant was o!ened three years ago. I liked the restaurant #ery much ecause it offered a wide range of local, .hai and western foods. I would always try different dishes each time I went there. *ll the customers said the restaurant was #ery s!acious. 7ome said 3am oo Restaurant was the iggest restaurant in town. &hen we arri#ed at the restaurant, I saw a ig crowd. 5y father took some time to !ark his car. 5y mother said, M&e ha#e a sur!rise for youSN I insisted my mother to tell me a out the sur!rise ut she 4ust asked me to e !atient. 5y family and I walked to a room which my father ooked for us. .he room was quite ig and it could accommodate more than 5B !eo!le. &hen I o!ened the door, I saw many !eo!le standing while cla!!ing their hands ha!!ily. .hey were my grand!arents, uncles, aunties, cousins and immediate neigh ours. I was really sur!rised to see my girlfriend with her !arents tooS @#ery ody congratulated me for my 7P5 result. I was dee!ly touched. I hugged my !arents for organising such a dinner to cele rate my success. I sat eside 5imi, my girlfriend. 7he ga#e a gift ut I had to !romise her to o!en it at home. 5y father ordered my most fa#ourite dish for all of us 0 chicken cho! with lack !e!!er sauce. &e also had garlic read, salad and cra meat sou!. I always told my friends to come to 3am oo Restaurant if they wanted to taste the est chicken cho! in town. It was a long night at my fa#ourite restaurant. 5y cousins sang a 1ustin 3ie er/s song for me. 5y grand!arents s!onsored !rizes for lucky draw. In short, we had so much fun at the restaurant. It was really a memora le night.

23

7am!le 4 The Day When Everything Went Wrong I had 4ust started working as a des!atch oy at an international com!any in Cuala Dum!ur. .he 4o was not great ut I acce!ted it after failing to get a 4o in my hometown, Cuala ;erang. *ctually, my neigh our/s son who was staying in Cuala Dum!ur recommended me for the 4o . Di#ing in a ig city was totally different from li#ing in Cuala ;erang. 3ut, whate#er it was, Cuala ;erang was still in my heart. *fter si% months working, I egan to fall in lo#e with Disa, a clerk at a !rimary school. $ne day, I a!!roached her at a coffee sho!. 7he was ha#ing lunch alone. I 4oined her. 7he was #ery ha!!y and really welcomed me to accom!any her. ;othing much ha!!ened on that day ut we 4ust talked. &e got to know each other etter. *fter lunch, I asked her if she would e interested to watch a mo#ie with me on the coming weekend. I was sur!rised when she ga#e me a definite 26esS/. :rom that day, we ecame closer and lo#e egan to loom etween us. Disa confessed to me that she was worried a out what some other !eo!le might say to me ecause she was ten years older than me. 3ut I con#inced her that age was not im!ortant to me. &hat was more im!ortant was her sincerity and ha!!y(going attitude. Disa elie#ed in me. 7he knew I truly lo#ed her. 7o, one day she asked me to meet her !arents. $n one 7unday, I went to Disa/s house. I was su!!osed to e there at L.BB am. 9owe#er, I only reached her house at --.BB am. 5y motorcycle roke down once I left my house. I did not know why I was so stu!id not to take a ta%i ut waited for two hours to get my motorcycle re!aired. It was su!!osed to e an im!ortant day in my life ut e#erything went wrong. I also left my mo ile !hone at home. I orrowed the mechanic/s mo ile !hone to inform Disa a out what ha!!ened to me ut I 4ust could not recall her contact num er. 5y mind went lank. &hen I reached her house at --.BB am, I could see her !arents/ unha!!y faces. .heir con#ersation with me was #ery limited. I was confident they were not listening to me when I was e%!laining a out what ha!!ened to me. .o make it worse, I left a o% of chocolate, which I !romised to gi#e to Disa/s mother, at the worksho!. I knew Disa was frustrated with me ut she still treated me well. Disa ser#ed tea and some curry !uffs. I was #ery hungry as I missed my reakfast so I ke!t eating them one after another. Disa/s !arents were s!eechless to see my act. &hen I saw their shocking faces, only then I slowly !ut ack the curry !uff in my hand into the !late. It was the last !iece. *fter that, I asked for !ermission to go to the washroom as I really had to answer nature/s call. I was too clumsy. I fell in the washroom as the floor was sli!!ery. 5y !ants were soaking wet. I did not know what to do so I stayed in the washroom for a out fifteen minutes. :inally, I came out with my wet !ants. I quickly said good ye to Disa and her !arents and left the house. It was truly a day when e#erything went wrong.

7am!le 5 E#a ination .his morning I sent my son to school. It was the first day of his 7P5 e%amination. 5y son, <ean, was a diligent oy. Unlike me when I was his age, he did not need any moti#ation to study for e%amination. 9e was a le to manage his own time #ery well. 9e made his own timeta le. <ean knew when to study, !lay, watch tele#ision and go out to ha#e fun with his friends. I really saluted him for his inde!endence and maturity. I res!ected him ecause I was #ery much different from him when I was -A years old. &hen I was in :orm 5, I was a lazy student. Perha!s, the laziest in my family and in class. 5y !arents es!ecially my mother was always angry with me when she came ack from work and saw me slee!ing in my room. 24

@#en my teachers in school did not know what to say to ad#ise me to study for my 7P5 e%amination. 5r. ;ick, my 9istory teacher, always !unished me for my laziness. I had ne#er com!leted his 9istory notes and e%ercises. 5y +hemistry teacher, 5adam 3eh, could not e#en look at my face. 7he ga#e u! on me. I really did not ha#e any idea how could I !re!are for my e%amination. I realised I could not lame any ody ut myself. I was the one who refused to listen to all the ad#ice gi#en y my !arents, teachers as well as friends. @#en when the school organised moti#ational talks and study skills seminar, I would find ways and create e%cuses not to attend the !rogramme. I only !icked u! my re#ision ooks and egan to study two months efore the e%amination. 5y mother was sur!rised to see me with 7P5 ooks around me. 7he 4ust could not elie#e her eyes. 7he did not say a word ut ga#e me a hug while shedding tears. I !romised her that though it could e too late for me to !re!are for my 7P5, I !romised my mother that I would still try my est. :or two months, I did all I could for my 7P5 e%amination. .he result was announced se#eral months later. $f course, I did not get straight *s ut I did not fail in any su 4ect. 5y !arents were not ha!!y with my result. 5e too. I learnt my lesson well.

7am!le @ssay H

The day that , !ill never forget $ne e#ening when the sun was a out to set, my mother asked me to uy some onions and salt from a near y sundry sho!. .he sho! is run y *h Cow, a 4o#ial middle(age +hinese man with a huge !ot( elly. 9is wife and three young children, two oys and a girl hel! him e#eryday. It was almost com!letely dark when I reached the sho!. *h Cow had switched on the lights in his small ut adequately stocked sho!. 9e was alone at that time and I was the only customer. *h Cow greeted me with a warm smile. I always want to ask him how he ke!t his teeth so s!arkling white ut I was afraid to ask. I told him what I wanted and he went to get the things. ;e%t door to *h Cow is a coffee sho!, owns y an Indian man. It was still o!en at that time. :rom the coffee sho! came two men. .hey came into *h Cow/s sho!. I could smell ad reathe from these two men and I knew they oth drunk. 3oth of them were young ut from the way they half( walked half(staggered into the sho!, it was o #ious they had too much drink. I ke!t a safe distance from these men. It is ne#er a good idea to e near drunks. $ne ne#er knows what they will do ne%t. .rue enough, my caution was 4ustified. :or the ne%t moment, without any warning, one of the men swe!t a !ile of tinned goods from a ta le onto the floor. In a second the neat rows were reduced to utter chaos. .he man who did it roared ut in laughter. I could see *h Cow/s anger rising. 9e raised his #oice. *s if in re!ly to his retort, the two men started shouting at him. .hen, suddenly a knife a!!eared in one of the men/s hand. .he man that held the knife was small and wiry, 4udging from the muscles in his hand and I had no dou t he was #ery strong .he knife(man lunged and in a flash he had the !oint of his knife at *h Cow/s throat. *h Cow froze and his face !aled. I was o#erwhelmed y the suddenness of e#ents that the ne%t thing I knew I could not mo#e my hands, nor the other !arts of my ody. I was held in a #ice(like gri! y the other man. I did not e#en see him coming. I struggled ut all I could do was to make the gri! tighten more. It got difficult to reathe. 25

I hears a lot of shouting and I could see the knifePmen sla!!ing *h Cow. Reluctantly, *h Cow o!ened the drawer where he ke!t his cash and the knife(man leaned o#er and made a gra of cash. .hat was a ig mistake he made. :or a fleeting moment, his knife was forgotten and in that short time *h Cow seized his chance. *h Cow/s huge right hand came down hard o#er the ack of the leaning man/s head right down hard on the ta le. .here was a sickening thud when face met ta le. .he knife( man/s head re ounded like a ru er all from the ta le and I could see lood all o#er his face. 9e was adly hurt. .he knife dro!!ed from lifeless hands on the floor. 5o#ing with sur!rising s!eed, *h Cow gra ed a ottle of tomato ketchu! from a shelf and knocked the man/s head. .he red tomato ketchu! s!lattered all o#er the !lace. I could not distinguish how much of the red stuff on the man/s face was his own lood, or tomato ketchu!. 7lowly he sank to the floor and lay still. I struggled to get loose. It felt so easy. .hen I realized that hands no longer held me. I turned around and saw the dark figure of a man running out of the sho! and disa!!earing to the semi( darkness. I was a out to go in !ursuit ut *h Cow sto!!ed me. 9e said it was useless !ursuing some ody in the dark. 5oreo#er the man could e armed and that would e dangerous. .en minutes later, the sho! was filled with curious !eo!le wanting to know what had ha!!ened. .he knife(man was herded in the !olice car. *h Cow and I had to gi#e our statements to the !olice. &hen I arri#ed home half an hour later, my mother was waiting im!atiently for me. I told her e#erything and she smiled. 7he said she was glad I was not in4ured. I will ne#er forget for the rest of my life.

7am!le @ssay A -y 5avourite 9oliday Destination 5y fa#ourite holiday destination is Dangkawi, which is made u! of LL islands on 5alaysia/s west coast. It is the country/s est(known holiday destination. 7urrounded y stunning turquoise sea, it is the most !o!ular and is frequented y oth local and foreign tourists. .he sightseeing attractions in Dangkawi certainly will not disa!!oint #isitors. $ne of the interesting !laces I lo#e to go is the Underwater &orld 0 5alaysia/s largest aquarium 0 which features 'BB different s!ecies of marine and freshwater creatures. It is located at Dangkawi/s most !o!ular each, Pantai +enang, where #isitors can en4oy the #arieties of water s!orts or sim!ly strolling along the white sandy each. 5ahsuri/s .om is another tourist attraction which !reser#es the historical !ast of Dangkawi. .his memorial is uilt in honour of 5ahsuri, a fair maiden who was accused of adultery and un4ustly !ut to death. *ccording to legend, she led white lood as a sign of her innocence and she cursed Dangkawi for se#en generations. 3esides, you can #isit the ,amat :actory near y where you can !urchase a wide #ariety of this traditional 5alay medicine. 1ust 5 kilometers away from 5ahsuri/s .om , the :ield of 3urnt Rice is another must(#isit !lace. It is elie#ed that when the 7iamese army in#aded Dangkawi, the local chief ordered that all the rice in the land e cut and urnt to !re#ent it from falling into enemy hands. .o this day you can !ur!ortedly still see the urnt rice on the ground during hea#y rain(fall.

26

6our #isit to Dangkawi is not com!lete without e%!eriencing the gondola ride at $riental =illage, home of the ca le car. It takes you from the foot of ,unung 5achinchang to its a!e%. :rom the !eak, you will get a ird/s eye #iew of Dangkawi/s thick greenery and also the .elaga .u4uh waterfalls. If you are a nature lo#er, you can en4oy a glim!se of the lush flora and fauna of the Cilim ;ature Park. .his tri! will take you on a fascinating 4ourney to e%!lore the !ark/s natural inha itants as well as its natural limestone ca#es. :inally, if you are intent on carting off duty(free !erfumes, im!orted dishes, atik and chocolates, then this is the !lace to e. .here are many sho!s offering these items at good !rices, es!ecially in Cuah .own. It is indeed a sho!!ing hea#en es!ecially for ladies. Dangkawi is definitely my fa#orite holiday destination. 3esides eing a duty(free island and eautiful tourist s!ots to go, it is a !lace where I can rela% and feel as if I am in another world. I will definitely s!end my holidays in Dangkawi again.

7am!le @ssay I

,nternet .he Internet or the &orld &ide &e is indeed a wonderful and amazing addition in our li#es. .he Internet can e known as a kind of glo al meeting !lace where !eo!le from all !arts of the world can come together. 9owe#er, there are ad#antages and disad#antages of using the internet. $ne of the things that you can do #ia the Internet is e(mail. &ith e(mail you can send and recei#e instant electronic messages, which works like writing letters. 6our messages are deli#ered instantly to !eo!le anywhere in the world, unlike traditional mail that takes a lot of time. .here are also many 2chat rooms/ on the we that can e accessed to meet new !eo!le, make new friends, as well as to stay in touch with old friends. It is a great way to meet u! with !eo!le of similar interest and discuss common issues. Information is !ro a ly the iggest ad#antage internet is offering. *ny kind of information on any to!ic under the sun is a#aila le on the Internet. .he 2search engines/ on the Internet can hel! you to find data on any su 4ect that you need. *long with getting information on the Internet, you can also sho! online. .here are many online stores and sites that can e used to look for !roducts as well as uy them using your credit card. 6ou do not need to lea#e your house and can do all your sho!!ing from the con#enience of your home. 27

3esides, we can also download software from internet. .his is one of the most ha!!ening and fun things to do #ia the Internet. 6ou can download games, music, #ideos, mo#ies, and a host of other entertainment software from the Internet, most of which are free. 9owe#er, there are certain cons and dangers relating to the use of Internet. If you use the Internet, your !ersonal information can e accessed y other !eo!le. If you use a credit card to sho! online, then your credit card information can also e 2stolen/ which could e akin to gi#ing someone a lank check. 3esides, !ornogra!hy is a #ery serious issue concerning the Internet, es!ecially when it comes to young children. .here are thousands of !ornogra!hic sites on the Internet that can e easily found and can e harmful to children. 7uch illegal acti#ities are frustrating for all Internet users, and so instead of 4ust ignoring it, we should make an effort to try and sto! these acti#ities so that using the Internet can ecome much safer. In conclusion, the ad#antages of the Internet far outweigh the disad#antages, and millions of !eo!le each day enefit from using the Internet for work and for !leasure.

7am!le @ssay L

Write a story beginning !ith> @, could not believe

y eyesAB

I could not elie#e my eyes as I saw the skinny lady who was walking slowly towards the medicine counter. 7he looked old, haggard and de!ressed. 7he looked so familiar to me, ut a younger, ha!!ier #ersion. .here was no way I could e wrong. Uuietly, she sat on one of the chairs and waited !atiently for her turn to collect her medicine. I suddenly remem ered, it had to e <iana, my est friend in secondary school. 3ut this !erson looked too old to e )B. *nyway, I ra#ed myself to a!!roach her. 9earing my footste!s, she looked u! slowly. M6ou are <iana 6usof, aren/t youON 7he nodded her head silently. M9ello, *miraO 6ou are looking good.N 9er remarks reminded me of how eautiful she had een once. <iana had een the school eauty. @#eryone had admired her for her looks, her rains and her eautiful character. 28

$ne day, <iana had sto!!ed coming to school. ;o one knew where her family had gone and why they had left so suddenly. .aking a seat ne%t to her, I wondered what had ha!!ened to her. M&hy did you lea#e so suddenly, <ianaO &hyON 7he looked at me ner#ously. I could sense that she was reluctant to talk and e%!ose a !art of her life. *fter a long silence, finally, she started telling me her story. 9er mother had een diagnosed with cancer and there was nothing the doctors could do. .hey said that she had only three months to li#e. 9er father decided to return to their hometown, to let her li#e in !eace. 9er father, distressed y his wife/s death, started to neglect his own health and three months later, he too died, lea#ing <iana in the care of her aunt. .ears rolled down <iana/s cheeks as she related the difficult years with her aunt. 9er aunt treated her adly. 7he forced her to quit school and to work at a restaurant. .he cruel old lady often eat her. 9er cousins, 4ealous of her eauty, were nastier than their mother. ;ow that the aunt was old, her fi#e children had left her when they realised that she needed s!ecial care. <es!ite her aunt/s !oor treatment of her, <iana felt sorry for her. M7he has no one else,N she said. MI ha#e !romised to take care of her.N I looked at <iana and saw her goodness. Instead of seeing a gaunt and weary figure, I saw an amazingly eautiful human eing. 5y heart went out to her. 1ust then, her name was called. 7he got u! and collected the medicine which, I knew, was for her aunt. 9er story reminded me of something my mother used to say, MDife is like an onion8 6ou !eel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you wee!.N 3efore lea#ing, <iana turned and smiled sadly at me. I ne#er saw her again after that.

7am!le @ssay -B 5ootball C -y favourite sport C ,nterest 5anchester UnitedO Di#er!oolO *rsenalO CedahO ItVs .uesday morning. <o you find yourself longing for the weekendO ;ot ecause the idea of ha#ing two days off from school, ut ecause your li#ing room tele#ision is om arded y foot all matches, oth local and international scenes. :oot all is the greatest s!ort of all time and has endured the test of time, dating ack to the ancient ,reece. 9ere are the little things that get me through the week and reasons why I lo#e foot all. 29

:irstly, I lo#e foot all ecause it is sim!ly far more entertaining than any other s!ort in the world. It/s the world/s most !o!ular s!ort, sim!le. *s a s!ort it is far less !redicta le than most. It/s a s!ort where u!sets can and do occur on a regular asis. 3esides, it is a sim!le and ine%!ensi#e s!ort that anyone can !lay. *ll you need are shoes and a all. $ #iously among other reason, my family and I share a lo#e for foot all which means family gatherings of watching our fa#orite teams during foot all season. 5y mother would !re!are some crackers and hot, lack coffee, allowing us to en4oy the match des!ites her fa#ourite 5alay drama is !laying on the other channel. :oot all is also source of national !ride. * great e%am!le of this is Iraq. @#en though their country was in shreds, they still managed to !iece together a national soccer team to re!resent in the $lym!ics. I remem er when they came out during the o!ening ceremony and recei#ed a standing o#ation, it was #ery touching. It sounds like an old clichW, ut foot all really is a s!ort that unites all. .he game of foot all is !layed y more worldwide than any other s!ort. .herefore, when the &orld +u! arri#e in 3razil in the summer of 'B-4, for those two weeks, ci#il wars will cease and !eo!le will gather and watch their national teams !lay for the most co#eted tro!hy on the !lanet. It/s a eautiful thing. I do not like foot all. I sim!ly lo#e it.

7am!le @ssay -The %erson , Ad ire -ost .he !erson I admire most is none other than my maternal aunt, 5ak 7u 5idah. 7he is my mother/s youngest sister. I lo#e 5ak 7u 5idah ecause she is a res!onsi le and understanding !erson. 5ak 7u 5idah stands -H- cm, with a !etite, slim figure. 7he has fair com!le%ion, smiling eyes and lustrous, lack, shoulder(length hair. 9er face is as smooth as silk, and she has rosy cheeks and !ink li!s. 3eing a successful usinesswoman, she holds herself #ery well and has the charm and grace to go with it. 5ak 7u 5idah owns a chain of akeries in 1ohor 3ahru. 7he is a !erson who always !uts her est foot forward and she is !lanning to e%!and her usiness to other ma4or cities like 5elaka, 7erem an and 7inga!ore. *s a single mother, 5ak 7u 5idah always works hard to !ro#ide for her three sons. *lthough she is usy with her usiness, she always finds time to s!end with them. 7he makes sure they ha#e dinner together. <uring school holidays, 5ak 7u 5idah would also take some time off to take her sons for a #acation. 9er sons are doing #ery well in school as they are #ery disci!lined and focused. 5ak 7u 5idah is a good role model not only to me, ut also to her sons. *lthough she is #ery successful, 5ak 7u 5idah is #ery hum le, modest and res!ectful to e#eryone. 7he is also su!!orti#e towards her si lings and ne#er fails to hel! anyone who is in trou le. 7ometime ago, my father was in a financial distress and 5ak 7u 5idah ste!!ed u! and hel!ed him to 30

sol#e his !ro lem. I ha#e learnt to e like her in this res!ect. 7he always says that hel!ing others rings her 4oy. 5ak 7u 5idah is also always understanding and su!!orti#e towards me. *s a young child, I used to !lay with her and I e#en roke her fa#ourite #ase, ut she was #ery !atient with me and ne#er lost her tem!er. 3esides that she always encourages me to study hard and reminds me to stay focused. 7he is like a friend to me and also the fa#ourite aunt of all her ne!hews and nieces. .o me, she is my role model. &hen I grow u!, I want to e like her. .hat would certainly make my !arents #ery ha!!y 0 to ha#e a daughter who is not only successful, ut also res!ectful to e#eryone.

7am!le @ssay -'

9ari 'aya :elebration $ne of the iggest cele rations in 5alaysia is @id or more commonly known as 9ari Raya *idilfitri or 9ari Raya Puasa. 9ari Raya literally means V+ele ration <ayV. It is cele rated y 5uslims on - 7yawal of 5uslim +alendar after a month of fasting. 7ho!!ing malls and azaars are usually filled with !eo!le days ahead of 9ari Raya, which creates a distincti#e festi#e atmos!here throughout the country. .his is the time when my mother and I will do our last minute sho!!ing for clothes and delicacies. .hen, we will return to our home town to cele rate the festi#al. .he night efore 9ari Raya is filled with the sounds of the tak ir in the mosques. 1ust like in many !arts of 5alaysia, es!ecially in the rural areas, I will lit oil lam!s and !lace them outside and around my grandmother/s home. 5y rothers, together with my cousins, will light traditional am oo cannon or firecrackers which are notoriously loud and can e #ery dangerous. 5y mother and aunts will e usy !re!aring s!ecial dishes like ketu!at, dodol, rendang and other delicacies to ser#e on the ne%t day. 5y fa#ourite is definitely lemang which is a ty!e of glutinous rice cooked in am oo. $n the morning of 9ari Raya, we will wear our traditional clothing, a4u kurung. 3efore heading to the mosque for !rayer, we will greet one another and ask for forgi#eness for sins which we may ha#e committed. $nce the !rayer is com!leted, it is common for many 5uslims to #isit the gra#es of lo#ed ones. <uring this #isit, we will clean the gra#e, recite 6assin, and also !erform the tahlil ceremony. *ll these are done as a means to ask ,od to forgi#e oth the dead and the li#ing for our sins. .he rest of the day is s!ent #isiting relati#es or ser#ing #isitors. 9ari Raya is a #ery 4oyous day for me and other children as we will e gi#en token sums of money, also known as Xduit rayaX, from our !arents or elders. I truly en4oy the 9ari Raya cele ration which is a really unique festi#al. It is more than a religious cele ration as it fosters closer relation in a family as well as the neigh ourhood.

31

7am!le @ssay -) -y school 5y school, 7ekolah 5enengah Ce angsaan 7ri +em!aka is located in .aman Indah, a out three kilometers away from the town center. It was uilt in -LH-, the first secondary school in the district. It is a grade * school and has more than 'BBB students. .o cater such a ig !o!ulation, there are thirty classrooms with usy sessions oth in the morning and afternoon as well. *s you enter the school com!ound, you will immediately come to the office. It is on the ground floor of a three storey uilding which also holds the li rary and two 7cience la oratories. .he school hall which can seat -BBB students is ne%t to the office. .he hall has witnessed a lot of glorious moments e#er since it was uilt '5 years ago. .here is a s!acious garden ehind the office lock. It is a eautiful garden with e%otic !alm trees and a fish !ond. @ach of uniform ody in the school takes turn to clean the garden e#ery weekend. 1ust eside the garden is the school canteen. It is a large canteen and sells #arieties of food. I !articularly lo#e the Daksa. It is #ery delicious. .he school field is well(equi!!ed. It has a foot all field, a hockey field, a asket all court and two #olley all courts. It is not sur!rising as the students in this school are acti#e in s!orts. 5any of the students !lay foot all, asket all and hockey for the state. .he school is also the cham!ion in the district athletics games for three consecuti#e years. *lthough the school is old, it has a !roud history of !roducing rilliant students who are good in s!orts and in their studies. I lo#e the school ecause of the friendly students and dedicated teachers there. I will definitely miss this school when I lea#e it at the end of this year.

7am!le @ssay -4 An 8nforgetable E#perience 5ay '5 'BB- is a day I will ne#er forget. It was the day when my family suffered a tragedy. .he day egan like any other day and we all got ready for school while my father got ready to go to work. &e all had reakfast together, en4oying our fa#ourite anana !ancakes and hot chocolate, efore lea#ing the house. 5y sister and I got on our school us while I saw father got into his car to get to work, lea#ing my mother doing her usual house chores. *t -B.BB a.m., I was ha#ing a 5athematics lesson when a teacher came and told me my father was at the canteen waiting to take me home. I could sense something ad had ha!!ened. :earing the worst, and thinking of all kinds of ad things that could ha#e ha!!ened, I met my father who had already fetched my sister. 9er face was white as a sheet. 2$ur house was urnt down and mom is in the hos!ital,/ e%!lained my father sadly. 9is #oice shook as he s!oke. I was so shocked. &e rushed to the hos!ital and the doctor told us that mom was all right. &e thanked ,od that nothing serious had ha!!ened to her. 7he only suffered minor in4uries. 9owe#er, we lost e#erything in the fire, our com!uter, furniture, ooks and clothes. I found my !iggy( ank in the ashes and the coins 32

were still inside. .hat was all I had left. 5y father comforted us y saying that the house could e uilt and the things inside could e ought. 25other is all right and that is the most im!ortant thing,/ he said. .hat is why 5ay '5 is a day I will ne#er forget.

7am!le @ssay -5 The Dong 5estival +hinese cele rate thanksgi#ing on ''nd <ecem er for the <ong :esti#al. It is the day of merriment, feasting and gi#ing thanks. It is also a day for setting out ho!es for the coming year and for ancestor worshi!. In ancient times, according to tradition, the @m!eror had to fast on the e#e of <ong to !re!are for the ceremonial rituals and ancestor worshi!, which was carried out on the *ltar of 9ea#en in 3ei4ing. $n the day itself, the @m!eror would offer sacrifices at the .em!le of 9ea#en. If the day was dry and clear, the coming year would e !eaceful. <ong is a family cele ration with a family dinner for those who li#e near y or are free to come. Prayers are offered at the family altar. .he day is marked y the !re!aration of 2tong yuen/, a dish of glutinous rice flour alls in syru!. .he !rocess in#ol#ed the making of ground glutinous !owder into dough. .hen, half of the dough would e coloured red and the rest left white. .he roundness of the alls sym olizes family co(o!eration and union. Usually there would e twel#e larger white alls sym olizing the num er of months of the year. .he rice alls would e oiled until they are cooked. @#eryone must eat at least one such all to indicate that one is a year older. I can recall those early years when I hel!ed to make the rice alls. It was a fun acti#ity when we would com!ete to see who could roll the roundest and the most num er of alls. 5other would e the 4udge and gi#e a reward to the winner. &hen she had enough of the rice alls, we were allowed to sha!e the alance into any sha!e we like. .hey would also e oiled and we would eat our own creations. ;owadays, <ong is not cele rated like it should e. .he alls with fillings can e ought ready(made. Peo!le are too usy to o ser#e traditions and customs. It is not a !u lic holiday and many young !eo!le tend to forget that such a festi#al e#en e%ists. 5oreo#er, no one wants to eat 2tong yuen/ as it is tasteless and not attracti#e at all. &e seem to ha#e ecome too so!histicated to en4oy the sim!le !leasures of life as a family.

7am!le @ssay -H :hronicles of 'ina < -others !alk )f /ife .he !ostman was at the door with a !arcel for me. It was from my sister who was !ursuing a degree in Dondon. I tore the !ackaging !a!er and what I had in my hand was a ook that traced my mother/s walk of life from the day she was orn u! to today. .here were all together 5B !ages for each year of her life. I had e(mailed all the documents, !hotogra!hs and e#en couriered a host of other things that I could not e(mail. 7he had utilized all that she needed into treasure of a moment for 5ama or 5other/s <ay. 33

.he co#er was a stained glass rose design of a fusion of 5ama/s fa#ourite colours. *s I turned the !ages, I was taken on a walk down memory lane. .he first fi#e !ages showed her entry into this world, her irth certificate, !hotos of irthdays, rides, swim and cries. .he ne%t few !ages illustrated her years in kindergarten, the concerts and her graduation !hotogra!h. 7he ca!!ed with her mortal oard and holding a scroll which had a toothy grin. 9er thirteen years in !rimary and secondary school were written in !ictures. .here are s!orts acti#ities, icycle rides, school e%cursions, science !ro4ects of !ressed flowers and lea#es as well as candid !hotogra!hs of her teenaged !eer acti#ities. 7he ne%t left to !ursue tertiary education in Cuala Dum!ur where she met Pa!a. I managed to find !hotos of them together culminating in their wedding ceremony. 7he was s!lendid in her wedding attire, so was Pa!a in his 5alay suit. 7he started a teaching career and I followed her !osting to the interior of Pahang. 3eing young and ine%!erienced, she en4oyed in her work which we read a out in her letters. .hese letters were to her family, relati#es and friends. .hen we came on the scene, the fi#e of us, commencing with my eldest rother and wnding with me. 7he has her fa#ourite !hotogra!hs and Dia knew 4ust the one each of us to include in the chronicles of e#ents. ;e%t were !hotogra!hs of Rahim/s graduation with our !roud !arents. It was followed immediately y Rahmah/s entry to the medical !rofession and Rahman/s setting u! his accountancy firm. .hen, came !hotogra!hs of Pa!a and 5ama/s !ilgrimage to 5ecca with 2$!ah/ and 2*tuk/. .he serene looks on their faces were crystal clear to us. .he children s!onsored 5ama and Pa!a/s first o#erseas tour of &estern world. *lthough we stayed home, we were the armchair tra#elers when they showed us the candid shots of their tour. .he last !age of the ne#er(ending M7agaN was the cele ration of the '5 th wedding anni#ersary of Pa!a and 5ama. It was a 4oyous occasion for e#eryone and the emotional out!ourings could een on their faces and heard in the recording made on the +<. .he sou#enir ended with the words, Mthe saga continues( 9a!!y 5other/s daySN and to accom!any it was another +< with messages from all her fi#e children. I closed the ook, wra!!ed it u! with atik cloth, tied it u! with ri on, largely written with the words, 2&@ D$=@ 6$U/.

34

 Information Transfer Reading Comprehension Summary Poem ove!

35

36